EDITORIAL:

Sixty percent. That’s a measure of great success sometimes. In an election that’s a landslide. Or how about as a batting average? You’d be the greatest hitter ever, by far.

But in our classrooms it stinks. A 60 on a test might prompt a teacher to attach one of those dreaded “see me” notes.

Yet, that’s close to the grade Planned Parenthood gave Newport-Mesa Unified School District’s sex education program, and at least one top school official appears unconcerned. Technically, the score was 59.34 out of 100.

Ordinarily, we’d tend to side with School Board President Martha Fluor against any organization parachuting into the community to offer its judgment. Fluor has more insight into the curriculum than most outside organizations. But Planned Parenthood isn’t exactly a fly-by-night organization.

We’re not sure Planned Parenthood wasn’t overly harsh in its assessment, but there’s room for improvement here if the textbook students are using fails to educate students on how to get testing or treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

“Obvious omissions include any discussion of condoms, even when discussing HIV/AIDS, or contraceptive methods,” the study states.

If Newport-Mesa educators are avoiding discussion of contraceptives for moral reasons then they need to reexamine the district’s curricula. From a practical standpoint, it doesn’t make sense to skip information in the hopes the kids won’t find out about it. This isn’t Happy Days where the kids can only turn to the Fonz for the dirt. Kids these days can easily turn to the Internet to find out whatever they please about contraceptives. Wouldn’t you prefer your local teacher talking to them about it? Strictly from an informational standpoint, of course.

The moral lessons belong in the home, where parents are the best teachers. Parents ought to promote abstinence if they choose. Not government bureaucrats. Or worse, we could let the kids find out what they’re curious about from the Internet. Because one thing’s for sure — keeping them in the dark will do nothing to deaden their curiosity.

Let our teachers give them the information and advise them that the best way to avoid a STD or an unwanted pregnancy is abstinence. That’s just a fact that no one can dispute. But skipping a talk about contraceptives in the hopes that kids will skip risky behavior defies common sense. They will find out somehow. Then it’s best for their parents to share their moral values regarding sex — at home. That’s a policy best developed and practiced at home, not in the classroom or in a district board room.